Have you ever felt like you were doing a lot for nothing? Have you ever had one of those dreams where you try to run and seem to be running but you aren't getting anywhere? Welcome to the life of me right now.

This epistle is one of a misspent summer and life. Maybe the loons have come home to roost. Do loons roost? I know they dive, swim and cry much like I have done this summer.

In Maine, we do have chickens but I prefer the wild loon swimming free and un-roosted. I wonder what the loons strive for as they swim round and round in the pond down the road from my farm.

Did you know that loons fly away from lakes and ponds and pass over the landscape as they cry? I like to think that they are calling out to me to forget my cares and go swimming with them. I intend to go swimming with them today.

Nothing is more important than getting another swim in before this summer slips away into the encroaching autumn. Autumn comes early to New England - especially Northern New England. One tree on Paris Hill has already completely turned from green to red.

That tree reminds me of an overly fashion conscious woman who doesn't want to continue wearing white shoes beyond the designated summer season and is avoiding such a fault pas early by donning black shoes now. Black shoes are classic. I gravitate to anything black.

When I go shopping for clothes, I have to pull myself away from the rack of black garb and be determined about other colors like purple, red and aqua. I have several black bathing suits but my favorite swim suit is aqua.

I only wear this bikini to swim in the pond down the hill. This bathing suit is well used and a bit ratty from the use. I put on old Champion shorts and an oversized T over my bikini to walk to the pond. About a month ago, someone stole my shorts, sunglasses, cap and favorite old comfy sandals while I swam.

I had such a great swim and then came out of the water to find that someone stole my stuff. I cried. I went from feeling good and refreshed to crying. People can be mean. I still miss my old black suede sandals. I suppose I should have tossed those shoes anyway but they were a perfect fit and wonderful to walk to the pond in as I looked forward to my swim.

If I had known that those sandals would make me so happy, I would have bought two pair instead and tucked one pair of shoes away until the others had worn out. If I had only known. Ah, how many times in my life, I have said, "If I had only known!"

I am tired of  thinking of what I should have done in my life. What a beat-myself-over-the-head time waste! I know time is not linear and the clock is our own human invention. We are slaves to the clock as if it was a god instead of a useful tool.

I rarely ever wear a watch. I get annoyed when people watch their watch. I'm happy I have no watch to watch and annoy people with by rudely signaling my precious time.

I am glad I didn't wear some favored old watch to the pond for someone to steal. I already lose time at the pond. Time is suspended as I swim. I leave all my cares on the shore for the taking.